Firearm



C. C. LCOMIS FIREARM Filed Dec. 16

May 9, 1932,..

lum y m b S 5 n mw m Q s Vc m n md m Patented May 9, 1933 UNH.

COMPANY, INC., A CORP YORK, ASSIGNOR T OB-ATION OF DELAW FIREARM Application filed December 16, 1931.

This invention relates lo firearms, particularly lircarms oi' the upward tilting breech type, and contemplates a safety device associated with the breech mechanism in such a way to prevent movement of the tire control mechanism at all times when the breech if; unlocked. For the purpose, ot illustration. the invention has been shown as applied to a supei'posed barrel gun havingr the breech and fire control mechanisms disclosed in my prior r11-pending application, Serial No. ."illdlll). tiled danuary 2li, lil-jl. This application ot' the invention, however. is merely illustrative.

lt is common practice to provide upward tilting' breech {rui-is with a safety device ari'ane'cd to engage either the scar oi' trigger, and manually operable by a sliding linger piece conveniently located on .the top or "tang" oi the breech mechanism frame. Such a safety device may bc arranged to block the tiring mechanism when the slide occupies an intermcdiat.l position.y and to release the li 'no' mechanism. placing;V the gun i a "ready to fire" ci'nlition when the Slide moved either backward or forward from intermediate "sate" position. The ireecli locking' mechanism may be so .arranged with respect to the safety mechanism that when the slide is in its forward tiring' position it will be restored to sate position by thc unlocking of the breech; but when the slide is in its rearward tiring' position it is not moved by unlocking the breech. and the gun remains iii tiringr condition unless the slide is manually operated. The latter mode of operation is particularly useful in trap shooting, in which rej'ieated tiring' Without manipulation of the safety slide is especially desirable. Provision may even he made., as in my cri-pending application aboicii'leiitiiied. 'l'ir-r locking the slide in its rearward` tiring position` lfius completely disabling' the safety mechanism.

it will be apparent hat il' thc mechanism is not i'einlered rtis'le. iu some part oi the breech unlocking', opening' o': closing' niovc ments it is possible to release the tiringr liaimmcis at a time when the breech has been sutliciently closed to align the primer MS l Serial No. 581,2

of a cartridge iii t STATES PATENT OFFICE RELIINGTON ARMS ARE he magazine with the tiring' pin. and the breech is not locked; and

the explosion of a locked breech is pote cartridge with an unntially dangerous.

The present invention aims to overcome the danger inherent in prior constructions,

without sacriliting any of the advantages thereof, by providina` u' a trigger locking device operable i1idependentlyv of the abovedescribed safety sli( times that the brecc ln the preferred construction, this is operated locking device controls the locking breech.

Other objects vcntion will appear following pended claims.

In the drawing:

le and effective at all li is open or unlocked. trigger by the lever which and unlocking of the and features of this iiimore clearly from the description taken in connection with the accompaiiyingi` drawing and apscction oi" a firearm illustratinzgr one embodiment of the present shows the pai-ts invention. This figure in the positions they occupy j ust after the lc'un has been tired.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly in section,

upon the broken line 2`2 of Fie. l.

I Fig. $3 is a tragme iramc or receiver se Fig. l is a transverse section,

Fig. l.

on the line H of Fig. 5 is a detail s moved to ay position fccted by the top love Referring' to F ig.

and the lower barrel at their rear ends in the forward provided forwardly adapted to receive pivotstuds 14 inwardly from the frame (Fig. 2).

edges of the ntary pian view of the clion of the firearm.

substantially howiiig thc safety slide in which it is not afr.

l the upper barrel l0 l1 are rigidly secured a breech piece 12. In breech piece are half journals 13 project-ing the main facing sides l5 of The fire control mechanism is all su ported upon a unitary and preferably integral main 'frame which comprises the aforementioned side plates or lianges projecting@V upwardly tion of a bottoni pl portion of the fram from the forward secate l0. The rearward e is in the form of an open rectangle, comprising the bottom plate 16, a post or column 1T, a top plate member 18, and a breech closing block or partition vvall 19, all preferably integral, and suitably formed to receive and support the mechanism to be described. The post 17 comprises au aperture 171 threaded to receive the stock holding screw. The partition wall 19 is suitably apertured to receive the tiring pin, hammer cocking rods and hannner spring pluugiers, and the for-verd end of the top plate 1S is widimed aud curved to receive the sliding breech cover.

The tiring pins E22 and 2li are supported and partially housed in a tiring pin supporting block 20 secured in place by a transverse pin 21 extending through the breech closing member 19 which is suitably slotted to receive the block 20. This block is apertured and counter-bored to receive the two firing pins with their retractiug springs Q--l, and a common cross pin Q6 retains the tiring ins in place.

The lire control mechanisms for the two barrels are counterparts. each comprising similar elements arranged side-by-side; hence, a` description of one lire control mechanism is applicable to both. Flach lire control mechanism comprises a tiring hammer 2T pivoted on a cross pin The ends of cross pin 28 are supported in the frame flanges 15 and a centrally located bearing member Q81, said bearing member comprising at its lower end a threaded enlargement 282 which is screwed into an aperture in the frame plate 16.

The upper or firing piu and sear engaging portion of each hammer "27 is offset relative to its lower or hammer spring pilot engaging portion, the upper parts of the tufo hammers lying adjacent to each other (Fig. 2) While the lower parts comprise hubs 271 which extend outwardly to the side flanges 15. Each hammer is actuated by a hammer spring Q9 arranged in a smtable Well iu the bottom plate 1F and acting through a` pilot head 30 upon parts of the associated hammer adjacent its pivot.

Each hammer comprises a notch fliupon its outer periphery for engagement with the nose of a scar 35 pivotcil at lib in a pair of Hange plates 37 proiecting upwardly from the bottom frame plate 1G. The pivot receiving opening in each sear IE5 is an elongated slot (Fig. l) for the purpose of permitting the momentary displacement of the sear When the associated han'uner is coched with the safety mechanism i *s1afe" position, as hereinafter more fully described.

Each sear is urged into the pcf-ation with respect to its pivot illustrated in Fig. 1 by a spring 39 partially housed in a suitable Well in the sear and guided by a spring pilot -10 bearing at its lower end upon a` transverse rod ul1 secured in the flange plates 37.

Each sear comprises a forwardly extending toe 42 adapted to engage a tri -il pivoted at Llll in the plate 16. The triggers are provided with the usual finger pieces 15, shielded by a trigger guard #lf3 attached to the base plate 16 in any suitable manner. Each tri gger includes a rearwardly extending nose JJ overlying a suitable sprin by which each trigger is held in contact with the toe l2 of the associated scar.

Each of the sears is provided with a laterally extending pin or lug i9 adapted for co-operation with a lug 50 upon safety bar 51. Said safety bar is pivoted at its rearward cnd to a sliding plate 52 associated with a safety operating finger piece 53. The safety bar 51 extends forwardly and downwardly from the plate 52, passing between and acting as a separator for the sears, and at its lower end comprises a slot il which receives the scar pivot 36. It will be understood that there is but one safety bar 51 and that said bar is provided on opposite sides with lugs 5() for cooperation with the lugs t9 on the two sears. Then the finger piece 53 is in its forward (Fig. l) position, the lugs 50 upon the safety bar 51 stand iu front of the scar lugs 49 and the. sears can he operated to disengage their respective hammers. Then the finger piece is retracted so that the lugs 50 stand beneath the lugs 49, the sears cannot move and, by reason of the engagement of the toes 4Q of the sears with the triggers, the triggers cannot be moved. The entire firing mechanism is thus securely locked against operation. Then the safety operating finger piece has been moved forwardly (Fig. l) to permit firing, it will bc restored to Lsafe position by the movement of the top lever 55 necessary for opening the breech. This operation is performed through a safety operating plunger i6 supported at its rear end in an apertured dcpending post 57 and pivoted at 58 (Fig. 3) to the hub 59 of the top lever. A spring 6() is interposed. between the post :37 and a suitable shoulder Gl upon the plunger, thereby not only holding the plunger iu its forward position but likewise holding the top lever in its normal position.

Means are provided for ad justing the safety mechanism, first. so that it will not be automatically moved to safe position upon the movement of the top lever. but may he manually operated; and, second. .so that the gun is in ready to fire condition at all times. These features are desi able, for etiample, for trap shooting, 1u which there is no necessity for rendering the gun mfc everjtv time it opened for reloading. and such functioning is a positive inconvenience. Accordingly there is provi-led a third position for the safety bar 51. plate and linger piece 53. in Whi h the lugs 530 stand in the rear of the scar lugs 49, and the plate 52 entirely out of the path of movement of plunger 56. Adjustable means are also provided for optionally preventing movement of the safety mechanism to this rearmost position or preventing its movement to its tor- Ward or automatically operated position. To this end plate :32 is provided with a s ries oll V-shaped grooves or notches 62 adapted to receive the rounded end el a short plunger 63 (Fig. 5) pressed inwardly by spring Gl held in place by a short screw G5, threaded into a transverse aperturtJ in the frame 18. The plate and associated parts are thus yieldingly held in the position to which they may be moved, and are prevented from stopping 1n an intermediate position.

the safety mechanism in the normal tiring position, that is. with the linger piece 53 moved forwardly. The slot in the trame i8 which receives the plate 52 is of suflicient length to permit the :novement of said plate to the rearward or "manually safe`r` position aforementioned, but movement ol the plate 52 to such position is normally blocked by means of a screw GG threaded into a transverse aperture (361 in the frame 18. By retracting said screw, plate 52 and associated parts may be moved to the manual sai'e position and will remain there until manually r )stored to one of the forward positions, the spring piangere 6?, occupying the. foremost one ol the notchcs 62, and if it is desired to positively prevcn accidental restoration to an automatic safe condition the stop screw GG mitr be inserted in front of plate 52 through the threaded opening 662. Moreover, the parts being in manual safe position. they may be set to prevent movement to safe"' position by advancing the screw 66 through opening G61 until its conical point enters the supplemental notch (i211 in plate 52. as seen in Fig. 5.

The top lever 55 is pivoted upon a pin or stud 68, projecting from a journal opening in the frame plate 18 and engaging a notch 69 in the hub 59 ol the top lever. rlhc huh 59 comprises a central aperture adapted to receive a projection 70 of the main looking bolt or breech cover 7l; said locking bolt having formed therein an annular recess which receives the hub 59, as ciearly shown in Fig. l. lVhen said locking bolt is in it'-4 forvvard position (Fig. l) it projects over the rear end of the barrel assembly, thereby locking the breech. The top lever is moved to its normal central position by spring 60. as aforesaid; the locking bolt being thereby carried to its forward or breech locking position.' its forward movement 'ov spring 6l) is limited by a suitable stud 72 which engages the partition wall 19 of thc trame. h/Iovenient of the top lever to the right fiom its normal (Fig. position will retract the locking bolt to permit the opening of the Fig. 1 shows parts of breech by reason of the eccentric mounting of the top lever on the frame 18 and itsl central connection Vith the top lever.

lileans' are provided for holding the breech cover retracted until the breech is closed, comprising a short lever ffl (Fig. 2) pivoted in one ot thc side plates l5 and urged upwardly by a spring 'T5 to engage a shoulder To on the breech covcr. dieu the breech is closed. said lever is (lepre-:scrl out. of engagement with shoulder T6 tlirong'h its engagemeot by the ledc'c 12l on thc breech piece l2.

The mechanism thus tar described correspondsl .substantially to that disclosed and claimed in my prior application above-mentioned. This mechanism has been selected as illustrating one form o'li lire control to which the present inventions are applicable. .is stated above. when the .safety plate 52 is adjusted to its rcarmost position (Fig. 5) the bar 5]. is rendered ineHective to lock thc scars at any time. With the safety mechanism in this condition. the triggers and scars arc tree throughout the closing movement ot the breech. Now as the breech is closed. with fresh shells in the chambers, the shell priincri-` come into sufficient alignment with the firing pins to be struck thereby, before the breech loch latch Tl has released the breech loci; or the lock has moved forward. so that it is possible to free the firing hammers and lire one or both of the shells in the chambers with the breech not fully closed, or fully closed and not locked. Such a misoperation, While unusual. may cause serious injury to either' the firearm, the shooter or both. To obviate these possibilities. the present invention provides a trigger lock which is operated automatically Whenever the breech loch is retracted. but which becomes disabled automatically as soon as the breech is closed and locked. For this purpcse a locking lover 80 is pivoted near its lovvcr end on a pin 8l extending between the soar supporting' flange plates 37. The lower cnd ol' the locking lever ol sufficient Width to ovorlie both oi' the triggers l. as clearly shovvn in Fig. i. The noses l? ot the triggers are provided with upper surfaces 82 curved to conform with the lower end of the locking lever. The upper end of the lever 80 is biturcated to receive a pin` 83 eX- tending laterally from the plunger 56.

Then the top lever is in its normal position for locking the breech. the plunger 56 is positioned forwardly (Fig. l) and rctains the locking lever 80 out of the path of the triggers 43. To unlocif the breech the top lever must first be turned and. d(- scribed previously, the lever will be held in this position by the latch 74 until the breech has been closed. Such increment of the top lever. as pointed ont hcreinbciore, shifts the plunger 5o rearwardly, and thru stud 83 rocks lever 8l), moving its lower end into the path of the part 82 of triggers 43. After the gun has been reloaded and the breech closed, the top lever 55 is moved back to its normal position by spring 60, restoring the plunger 55 and the locking lever 8O to their Fig. 1 positions. From the above it Will be seen that it is impossible to release the firing hammers unless the breech is not only completely closed, but locked; and, further, that both the locking of the triggers when the breech is unlocked and their release when the breech is locked are entirely automatic.

The invention is not to be construed as limited to the precise embodiment which has been selected for purpose of illustration, but is to be understood to contemplate all such modifications and equivalent devices as fall within a broad construction of the appended claims.

That is claimed is:

1. In a gun adapted to be opened for reloading, means for locking the gun in closed position, manual means for simultaneously unlocking the gun and locking the trigger. and means operable automatically when the gun is restored to closed position for unlocking the trigger.

2. In a firearm comprising mer. a trigger for controllingr said hammer, and a breech mechanism adapted to be opened to permit reloading; in combination, means for locking said breech mechanism in closed position, means for releasing said locking means, a lock for the trigger operated by said releasing means, and means actuated by the closing of said breech mechanism for disabling said trigger lock.

3. In a firearm comprising a frame, a barrel pivoted thereto, means for locking the barrel to the frame, a` manipulative lever adapted to unlock said barrel, means for preventing movement of the lever to locking position While the barrel is open with respect to the frame, and means cont-rolled by the lever for locking the trigger during such time only as the lever is in unlockingr position with respect to the barrel.

4. A firearm as defined in claim 3 which includes means for restoring the lever automatically to unlocking position when the barrel is moved to closed position.

5. In a firearm, a breech locking bolt, a bolt retraeting device, means for retaining said bolt in retracted position While the breech is open, and a safety device moved to effective position by the unlocking movement of said bolt and to ineffective position by the locking movement of said bolt.

G. In a iirearm as defined in claim 5, means for automatically restoring the bolt retracting device to locking position when the breech is moved to closed position.

7. A firearm comprising a frame, a barrel pivoted thereto, means for locking the a firing haml barrel in closed position with respect to the frame, a trigger locking device, means requiring movement of said device to locking position as a preliminary to the opening of the barrel, and means for automatically unlocking the trigger when the barrel is restored to closed position.

8. In a firearm, a breech locking bolt, a bolt retracting device, a safety mechanism movable by said bolt retracting device, manually operable means for disabling said safety mechanism and a separate safety device movable by said bolt retract-ing device independently of said disabling means.

9. In a firearm, a breech locking bolt, a bolt retracting device, a safety mechanism having a safe position and a firing position from which it is restored to safe position by the movement of the bolt retracting device, said safety mechanism being movable to a second firing position in which it is not affected by said bolt retracting device, and a separate safety device operable by the holt retracting device.

10. In a firearm, a safety mechanism having a safe position and a firing position. means for automatically restoring said safety mechanism from the firing position to the safe osition, said mechanism having a second ring position wherein the safety mechanism is disabled, and a separate safety device operable automatically when said safety mechanism is in any of its positions.

11. A firearm comprising a supporting frame, a trigger and a locking lever therefor both pivoted with respect to the frame, said lever having a portion adapted to be moved into and out of the path of the trigger, a rod connected to the lever for actuating the same, yieldable means urging the rod toward unlocking position, and manipulative means for moving the rod to locking position.

12. A firearm comprising a supporting frame, a trigger, a locking lever therefor pivoted to the frame, said lever having a portion movable into and out of the path of the trigger, resilient means tending to move the lever out of locking position, and positive means for moving the lever into locking position, said positive means coniprising a manipulative lever pivoted to said frame.

13. In a firearm, a supporting frame, a trigger, a locking device therefor pivoted to the frame and having a portion movable into the path of the trigger. means foiI actuating the locking device comprising` a. plunger supported by said frame. a manipulative lever pivoted to the frame for actuating the plunger, and a pin and slot connection between the plunger and the lever.

CRAWFORD C. LGOMIS.

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